Injury set to curtail loan signing's spell at Plymouth Argyle

WATFORD midfielder Ross Jenkins is set to have his loan spell with Argyle cut short by a groin injury.

The 21-year-old has returned to the Championship club for further assessment by their medical staff and a verdict is awaited from them.

But the chances are Jenkins will not complete his Argyle loan spell, which is scheduled to end on October 27.

He signed for the Pilgrims on September 21 and scored on his debut the following day in a 3-2 win away to Morecambe in League Two.

His goal sparked a stunning fightback from Argyle, who had trailed 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Jenkins was ruled out of the next match, a 1-1 draw with Paul Sturrock's Southend United at Home Park, when the groin injury first flared up.

He returned to action in the 1-1 draw at Wycombe Wanderers on October 2 but was then sidelined by the same problem when the Pilgrims lost 2-1 to visiting AFC Wimbledon last Saturday.

Argyle manager Carl Fletcher said: "Under the terms of this particular emergency loan, the responsibility for a players' medical well-being rests with the parent club.

"Therefore, because Ross is injured, he has returned to Watford for assessment and the medical teams of both clubs will liaise as to where to go from here."

Argyle will have captain and centre-back Darren Purse available for their trip to Barnet in League Two tomorrow.

Purse, 35, served a one-match suspension for receiving five yellow cards this season when the Pilgrims beat Aldershot Town 2-1 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Home Park on Tuesday.

His regular centre-back partner, Maxime Blanchard, has also sat out the last two matches because of concussion.

In the absence of Purse and Blanchard, Argyle's centre-backs against Aldershot were 19-year-old Curtis Nelson and debutant Jamie Richards, 18.

Fletcher was impressed by the two teenagers, but it would be a surprise were Purse not to return to lead out the side at Underhill tomorrow.

As for Blanchard, the Pilgrims' boss said: "He did a bit of training yesterday but he's not doing any heading.

"He's progressing day by day and we will see how he gets on."

Left-back Robbie Williams will be ruled out for a second match by a stomach muscle injury, which has gradually worsened over recent weeks.

Onismor Bhasera is also away on international duty with Zimbabwe, who have a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Angola on Sunday.

So Scott Griffiths will be Argyle's left-back against Barnet, after signing on a one-month loan from Championship club Peterborough United on Tuesday morning and making his debut against Aldershot that night.

Fletcher said: "Willo has kind of reached the end of his tether with trying to play through the pain."